Prince Harry may fly home straight after King's coronation ceremony
Prince Harry could fly home straight after King Charles' coronation ceremony in a "fleeting" visit to the UK, it has been claimed. The Duke of Sussex is to appear alongside his family in public at the coronation for the first time since he lambasted Charles, Camilla, William and Kate in his autobiography Spare. Meghan will not be attending the ceremony, but instead remain in California with her daughter Lilibet and son Archie, whose birthday lands on the same day as the historic event.
Jennie Bond, a former royal correspondent for the BBC, believes that Harry will dash back to the US so he can celebrate his son turning four years old.
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Prince Harry and King Charles pictured during the late Queen's funeral last September (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
She told GB News: "It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that he will fly straight out after the ceremony and get back to California just about in time to celebrate late in the day with his little son, Archie, whose fourth birthday it is." The royal commentator added: "He is not going to attend the lunch afterwards, as far as we know and we're told that maybe a place will be set in case he changes his mind. "I don't think he'll change his mind.
I actually think he will head straight back to California, probably within a couple of hours of ripping off his suit or whatever he's wearing and getting into his jeans and off he goes back to California." The comments come after Harry finally confirmed his attendance for the coronation, ending months of speculation about whether he would be present.
Meghan will remain in California with Archie and Lilibet (Getty Images)
Harry in London on March 30 this year (Getty Images)
The Palace said in a statement: "Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May. "The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet."
Archewell, Harry and Meghan's charitable foundation, issued a near identical statement to Buckingham Palace confirming the duke will join guests at the coronation. A spokesperson said: "The Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet."
Yesterday, the couple featured in a photo released as part of an official coronation souvenir programme, which went on sale for GBP20. Harry and Meghan were pictured with other members of the royal family in a previously seen portrait taken to mark Charles's 70th birthday in 2018.
Harry and Meghan featured in a photo released as part of an official coronation souvenir programme (AFP/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, with just over two weeks to go until the May 6 ceremony, it was revealed that the King and Queen Consort have personally chosen Coronation Quiche as their celebratory recipe. Seventy years after Coronation Chicken was created for Elizabeth II's coronation, Charles and Camilla selected a personal favourite as their recommended dish for Coronation Big Lunches.
The recipe is by royal head chef Mark Flanagan and features spinach, broad beans and tarragon. Further details also emerged about the celebrations, with the eve of the coronation set to be marked by a glittering Buckingham Palace reception attended by foreign royalty. Princess Beatrix, the former queen of the Netherlands, has confirmed her attendance at the event, expected to be hosted by Charles, alongside her granddaughter and heir to the Dutch throne Catharina-Amalia, the Princess of Orange.
Harry and Charles at Fishmongers Hall in London in 2018 (Getty Images)
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will not be among the guests, who are likely to include British royalty and presidents and prime ministers from across the globe, but will be at Westminster Abbey to see Charles and Camilla crowned.
The King's anointing is the only part of the ceremony the public will not see and will be a "private moment between a new King and the King of Kings", the Archbishop said. Elizabeth II was also anointed in private as is the tradition, wearing a plain pleated linen dress over her coronation gown, as she sat beneath a golden canopy. The Archbishop said, the King, dressed in the simple white garment, will come before God as a servant "in the full knowledge that the task is difficult and he needs help".
He added: "In the full knowledge that even as a King, he is one of the people and that even if he has a particular role to fulfil, he shares in our human frailties and vulnerabilities". The service will move to the moment of crowning as the mood turns to one of celebration, he added. The Archbishop described how coronations "often carry with them the hopes and prayers of nations for peace, justice and the common good".
A percentage of the sales of the souvenir programme will be split between two charities - the Royal Collection Trust and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.